Free two-day London show where ITSM, service desk and IT support buyers compare 85+ providers and 60+ sessions.
Dates
19–20 May 2027
City / country
London, United Kingdom
Venue
ExCeL London
Time
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Event overview
SITS – The Service Desk & IT Support Show returns to ExCeL London on 19–20 May 2027 as Europe's leading gathering for ITSM, service desk and IT support professionals. Across two days, buyers from UK and European enterprises compare service management platforms, support tooling and managed services from more than 85 providers, including Hornbill, ServiceNow, TOPdesk, HaloITSM and ManageEngine.
The free programme spans more than 60 keynotes, seminars, panels and small-group discussions on AI-enabled service delivery, employee experience and operational leadership. SITS runs alongside the MSP Show, and one free registration covers both floors, making it an efficient planning stop for teams modernising their support stack.
TL;DR
Attend to shortlist ITSM and service desk platforms in person, sit in on practitioner-led sessions and test how automation, AI assistants and ITAM fit your current stack. The free pass and co-located MSP Show let a team split across two floors and still meet the vendors on a shortlist.
SITS puts a concentrated UK and European ITSM buying audience in front of service management vendors for two days. The co-located MSP Show adds managed-service providers, and the free seminar programme gives exhibitors a route to practitioners who arrive with active tooling projects.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
Halls & areas
1Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL, United Kingdom
Entrances & gates
Custom House entrance
Elizabeth Line and DLR; about 10–15 minutes walk to the halls.
Prince Regent DLR entrance
DLR station on the venue side; follow signs to the halls.
3,070 on-site spaces; enter via Royal Victoria Dock Road or the A112, postcode E16 1FR for the car park.
3,070 spaces ·
Food options
ExCeL on-site cafés and catering outlets, Royal Victoria Dock waterfront restaurants
On-site diningParking: ExCeL has 3,070 car parking spaces. Access the car park via Royal Victoria Dock Road or the A112 and follow E16 1FR for the entrance. Pre-book parking on the venue site.
Gate: Use Custom House station for the Elizabeth Line and DLR; Prince Regent DLR also serves the venue. Allow 10–15 minutes to walk to the hall entrance.
Attend
Event days & opening times
Free trade pass
Registration is free for trade visitors and also covers the co-located MSP Show.
Ticket info
Ticket notes
Free trade registration; register interest online before the show. One pass covers SITS and the MSP Show.
What's on
MSP Show
Co-located managed service provider event; one free registration covers both shows.
Same ExCeL London venue, adjacent show floor.
WebsiteHow the last edition performed
Last edition
2026
Visitors: 6,200
Exhibitors: 85
Edition #: 30
This edition
2027
Visitors: 6,200
Exhibitors: 85
Next edition
2028
No 2028 edition has been announced; the organiser has confirmed only the 19–20 May 2027 London dates.
New this edition
Impact
SITS matters to the London and wider European ITSM market because it puts platform buyers, service desk practitioners and managed-service providers in one hall at the start of the mid-year budget cycle. A visit can compress weeks of vendor discovery into two days.
Audience quality
The audience is practitioner-heavy: service desk leads, ITSM process owners and IT directors from UK enterprises, plus MSP and reseller buyers from the co-located show. The free pass widens attendance but the programme is aimed at people with active service improvement projects.
Exhibitor outcomes
For vendors, the return comes from qualified conversations with teams already comparing ITSM platforms, not from raw footfall. A 9 sqm shell in a well-trafficked aisle plus two staffed days and a follow-up SLA is the minimum credible test; measure cost per qualified opportunity, not badge scans.
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
UK and European service organisations are consolidating ITSM, ITAM and automation into fewer platforms while budgets stay tight. SITS gives buyers a rare free, London-based room to compare the main vendors and hear practitioners describe what actually worked.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Platform consolidation
Buyers are replacing separate service desk, asset and workflow tools with a single service management platform to cut integration cost.
What it changes: Vendors at SITS are competing on breadth, so a visit should test integration and migration paths, not just interface polish.
AI inside the service desk
AI assistants, ticket summarisation and autonomous resolution are moving from pilots into production service desks.
What it changes: The programme's AI and automation sessions help buyers separate demonstrable use cases from marketing claims.
Employee experience as the service metric
Support teams are measuring satisfaction and time-to-resolution across the employee journey rather than ticket counts alone.
What it changes: This shifts evaluation toward self-service, portal design and knowledge management alongside core ITSM features.
SITS sits in a calendar of UK and European service management events; the co-located MSP Show and the Dutch SITS edition are the closest alternatives for a team planning a year of supplier meetings.
Spring London
Mid-May, same venue and pass.
Autumn Europe
Second-half options for teams that cannot travel in May.
SITS and MSP Show dates come from the official 2027 homepage; circuit rows other than the London shows are editorial planning context.
Plan your trip
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Closest airport; DLR and taxi links to Custom House.
about 1 mile / 1.6 km
to venue
5–10 minutes
by car
London Heathrow Airport
Elizabeth Line connects Heathrow to Custom House with a change; allow 60–80 minutes door to door.
about 23 miles / 37 km
to venue
50–75 minutes
by car
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
USD 110–165 / night
Walkable or one DLR stop from the halls; rates rise sharply in show week.
USD 180–270 / night
Closest full-service options; book through the official agent for event rates.
sourceUSD 280–430 / night
Larger rooms and dining; 10–15 minutes by DLR or taxi.
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
DLR
Contactless or Oyster; allow 15–25 minutes.
Elizabeth Line
Fastest link to central London; change at Whitechapel for the City.
Taxi / rideshare
Short hop; use the rank at LCY or the venue drop-off.
Plan your trip
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
| Type | Who needs it | Fee | Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa | Visitors whose nationality is not visa-exempt for the UK | — | typically around three weeks; check current guidance |
Many EU, US and Commonwealth visitors can enter visa-free for a short business visit; check gov.uk before booking.
A carnet can simplify temporary import of exhibition goods; confirm the current UK procedure with your freight forwarder.
Official visa pageWeather
Mid-May London is usually mild and changeable: daytime highs around 17–19°C, nights near 9–11°C, with a real chance of showers.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Mobile coverage is strong across Docklands; venue Wi-Fi is available but can be congested at peak sessions, so bring a hotspot for demos.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Queueing and punctuality
Sessions start on time and Britons queue for coffee and cloakrooms; arrive a few minutes early.
Business dress
Smart casual is the norm at UK tech shows; a jacket is enough for most meetings.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Destination: London City Airport (LCY)
Book 6–10 weeks ahead for May; LCY is closest but has fewer long-haul options, so connect through a European hub or use Heathrow.
Check your nationality on gov.uk; many short business visits are visa-free, others need a Standard Visitor visa.
Estimated cost: Fee set by UK Visas and Immigration; budget about USD 150 equivalent if a visa is needed.
Processing: Allow at least three weeks.
Carry an invitation letter, hotel booking and return ticket.
OfficialGet to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: LCY: 5–10 minutes by taxi (£15–£25) or DLR to Custom House. LHR: Elizabeth Line to Custom House with one change, 60–80 minutes.
Hotel → venue: Most Docklands hotels are a 10–20 minute walk or one DLR stop from Custom House.
Ride-hail: Uber and Bolt operate across London; expect surge pricing after the show closes.
Public transit: Contactless bank card or Oyster works on the Elizabeth Line, DLR and Tube; daily caps apply.
Parking: 3,070 spaces at ExCeL; pre-book and enter via Royal Victoria Dock Road or the A112, postcode E16 1FR.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: May
Temperature: 9–19°C
Seasonality: Showers are common; May is otherwise a good walking month.
Packing: Bring a light waterproof, layers and comfortable shoes for the halls.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: Day 1 (19 May 2027)
Day 1 carries the opening keynotes and the fullest seminar programme, and exhibitors are most heavily staffed. Stay into Day 2 for follow-up meetings if you are shortlisting platforms.
Register free and book travel and hotel — Use the official registration page; one pass covers SITS and the MSP Show.
Build a shortlist of exhibitors and sessions — Pick 8–12 vendors and three sessions per day.
Arrange meetings and share your requirements — Send a one-page brief with current tools and budget range.
Check travel disruption and print a floor plan — Elizabeth Line and DLR are the most reliable routes.
Pack badge, charger and business cards — Reconfirm meeting times and download the show app if available.
Arrive at Custom House, collect badge and coffee
ExCeL London entranceKeynote or first seminar
Keynote theatreSupplier meetings on the show floor
SITS exhibition hallMSP Show floor and round-table discussion
Co-located MSP Show hallFollow-up notes and networking drinks
Show café / networking areaGreenwich and the Cutty Sark
Heritage
15–20 minutes by DLR from Custom House
Historic maritime neighbourhood for a half-day before or after the show.
The O2 and Greenwich Peninsula
Entertainment
10 minutes by DLR or taxi
Restaurants, bars and a riverside walk close to the venue.
SITS networking drinks
official
End-of-day drinks on the show floor; bring cards and a clear ask.
Royal Victoria Dock waterfront
informal
Riverside cafés and bars a short walk from the halls for small-group dinners.
The two-day format compresses many conversations into a short window; a written follow-up within a day is what separates a useful show from a bag of cards.
Budget
Shell scheme
GBP 830–1000 / m²
Raw space
GBP 750–900 / m²
Standard booth
9 m²
Based on the organiser's 2024 published rates of £750 + VAT per sqm space only and £830 + VAT per sqm shell scheme; 2027 tariffs were not fetched, so treat as an estimate.
sourceAdjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
hotel
both · mid
USD 180–270 / per night
per_diem
both · standard
USD 55–95 / per day
booth
exhibitor · shell_9sqm
USD 8550–10620 / per stand
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| hotel | both | mid | USD 180–270 / per night | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| per_diem | both | standard | USD 55–95 / per day | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| booth | exhibitor | shell_9sqm | USD 8550–10620 / per stand | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
Decision
Answer six quick questions to see whether SITS 2027 is best for a visit, an exhibit, or a skip.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
Which best describes your role?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
You have an active tooling project or a team that needs practical ITSM training.
Best for
IT service desk, ITSM and IT operations teams evaluating tools or practices
Min. budget
$800.00
Timeline
1–2 days plus travel
Risks
Too many vendors to see in one day
Session clashes
exhibit
You can staff a 9 sqm stand with demos and follow up within 24 hours.
Best for
ITSM, ITAM, automation and managed-service vendors selling into UK and European buyers
Min. budget
$12,000.00
Timeline
3–6 months of planning
Risks
High show-week hotel and stand costs
Free attendance can mean lower seniority
skip
Your stack is locked and travel budget is better spent on a targeted vendor day.
Best for
Buyers with no ITSM project in the next 12 months or vendors without a UK route to market
Timeline
none
Risks
Missing competitor messaging
Losing a cheap learning opportunity
Book with
ExCeL London
The Docklands exhibition and convention centre hosting SITS 2027.
Venue named on the official SITS 2027 site.
British Airways
UK flag carrier with short-haul connections into London City and Heathrow.
Suggested travel provider for international visitors; not confirmed as an event partner.
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Business network and trade support body for companies operating in London.
Useful public body for UK market entry; not confirmed as an event partner.
itSMF UK
UK professional association for IT service management practitioners.
Industry body for the show's audience; its logo appears on the event site, but partnership terms were not fetched.
Recommended providers
Check nationality and apply at least three weeks before travel.
Official hotel booking agent for SITS 2027; reduced rates where available.
Compare LCY and LHR fares; book 6–8 weeks ahead.
Confirm the appointed 2027 handler in the exhibitor manual before booking.
Business travel and exhibition cancellation cover; confirm stand cover.
Official city guide for Greenwich, The O2 and riverside walks.
Badge scanning and CRM export; check compatibility with the show's registration provider.
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
8 more alternate names hidden
Trust footer
2
References
1
Publishers
2
Date checked
Diversified Communications UK
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.
